Trenton-Mercer Airport
Encyclopedia
- For the airport in Mercer County, West VirginiaMercer County, West Virginia-External links:* * * * * * *...
, see Mercer County Airport (West Virginia).
Trenton-Mercer Airport , formerly known as Mercer County Airport, is a public airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located in Ewing, New Jersey, four miles (6 km) northwest of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
(CBD) of Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, a city in Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. The airport handles general
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
and corporate aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
.
Trenton-Mercer is the sixth busiest airport in New Jersey overall (after Newark
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, Essex County
Essex County Airport
Essex County Airport is a public airport located two miles north of the central business district of Caldwell, a borough of northwestern Essex County in the U.S. state of New Jersey...
, Teterboro
Teterboro Airport
Teterboro Airport is a general aviation relief airport located in the Boroughs of Teterboro, Moonachie, and Hasbrouck Heights in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. It is owned and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey...
, Morristown
Morristown Municipal Airport
Morristown Municipal Airport is a public airport located in Whippany, three miles east of the central business district of Morristown, in Morris County, New Jersey, USA...
, and Atlantic City
Atlantic City International Airport
Atlantic City International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located nine nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Atlantic City, in Atlantic County, New Jersey...
) and is the third busiest commercially (after Newark and Atlantic City). After a three year period with no commercial passenger service, Streamline, a subsidiary of Charter Air Transport, started providing limited commercial service in April 2011.
History
The first airplaneFixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
landed at what is now Trenton-Mercer Airport in 1907, in what was then Alfred Reeder's farm field, just off of Bear Tavern Road in Ewing. Twenty-two years later in 1929, "Skillman Airport" was officially opened to the public.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the nearby General Motors plant ceased producing civilian vehicles and began producing TBF Avenger
TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air or naval arms around the world....
bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
s for the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. Skillman Airport was greatly expanded to accommodate test-flights of this aircraft, and after the airport was returned to county control following the end of the war, it was renamed "Mercer County Airport".
Airport Air Traffic Control
Air traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
operations based in the control tower
Control tower
A control tower, or more specifically an Air Traffic Control Tower , is the name of the airport building from which the air traffic control unit controls the movement of aircraft on and around the airport. Control towers are also used to control the traffic for other forms of transportation such...
were 6 AM to Midnight during the 1980s and early 1990s. Since January 1994, tower operations have been slightly shortened to 6 AM to 10 PM.
In 1995, the airport's name was officially changed from "Mercer County Airport" to "Trenton-Mercer Airport" in an effort to more closely identify it with the city of Trenton (the capital of New Jersey and county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Mercer County
Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the census of 2000, there were 350,761 people, 125,807 households, and 86,303 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,552 people per square mile . There were 133,280 housing units at an average density of 590 per square mile...
).
On March 11, 1998, an NWS
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
/FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) became operational at the airport, replacing the human weather observers which had previously reported airport weather conditions.
For many years, the county has had plans to expand the airport and attract more commercial airlines. However, these plans have been greatly impeded due to vociferous opposition from residents of local suburban housing tracts in Ewing, Lawrence
Lawrence Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
Area residents often refer to all of Lawrence Township as Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Lawrence Township...
, Hopewell
Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey
As of the 2010 United States Census, the township's population was 17,304. The racial makeup of the township was 86.7% White, 2.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 8.9% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.5% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races...
, Lower Makefield
Lower Makefield Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Makefield Township is a township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA and usually referred to as "Yardley" due to the prominence of Yardley Borough in that area...
, Pennington
Pennington, New Jersey
Pennington is a Borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 2,585.Pennington was established as a borough by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on January 31, 1890, from portions of Hopewell Township, based on the results of...
and Yardley
Yardley, Pennsylvania
Yardley is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States. The small community of Yardley is bordered by the Delaware River and Ewing, New Jersey on the east, and by Lower Makefield Township on the north, west, and south...
(some of which are in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, across the Delaware River
Delaware River
The Delaware River is a major river on the Atlantic coast of the United States.A Dutch expedition led by Henry Hudson in 1609 first mapped the river. The river was christened the South River in the New Netherland colony that followed, in contrast to the North River, as the Hudson River was then...
). Most of these developments were built after the airport was first established. However, these residents see aircraft noise as detracting from their quality of life, and feel threatened by the possibility of accidents resulting from increased air traffic.
In 1994, as a cost cutting measure, the Mercer County Airport Police and Fire Department was disbanded and replaced by the Mercer County Sheriff's office (police) and ProTec Fire Services (Aircraft Fire Rescue). The fire department was initially lead by Chief James Lonergan. Jim Lonergan previously was the director of aircraft rescue at Philadelphia International and Boston Logan Airport.
He was replaced, in 1997, by Mike Schwartz, who currently serves as an elected Ward Councilman in Delran Township
Delran Township, New Jersey
Delran is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 16,896....
. Chief Schwartz was also assigned as the Director of Fire Rescue at Morristown Municipal Airport in New Jersey. Following his retirement, he was replaced by Jim West at Trenton (who previously worked with the Space Shuttle program), and Morristown Municipal contracted with Rural-Metro Fire Service.
Facilities
Trenton Mercer Airport covers 1345 acres (5.4 km²) and has two runwayRunway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
s and three helipad
Helipad
Helipad is a common abbreviation for helicopter landing pad, a landing area for helicopters. While helicopters are able to operate on a variety of relatively flat surfaces, a fabricated helipad provides a clearly marked hard surface away from obstacles where a helicopter can safely...
s:
- Runway 6/24: 6,006 x 150 ft (1,831 x 46 m), Surface: AsphaltAsphaltAsphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
- Runway 16/34: 4,800 x 150 ft (1,463 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Helipad H1: 64 x 64 ft (20 x 20 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Helipad H2: 64 x 64 ft (20 x 20 m), Surface: Asphalt
- Helipad H3: 64 x 64 ft (20 x 20 m), Surface: Asphalt
Pilot Training
Trenton-Mercer Airport is home to multiple flight schools. Both Mercer County Community CollegeMercer County Community College
Mercer County Community College is an accredited, co-educational, two-year, public, community college located in Mercer County, New Jersey. The school's current president is Dr. Patricia C. Donohue...
's flight department and Airline Transport Professionals are based on the field.
The airport also is home to Royal Karina Air Service, which provides both flight training and aircraft rental.
Civil Air Patrol
Trenton-Mercer Airport is also home to the Twin Pine Composite Squadron (NER-NJ-092) of the Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
.
Former Commercial Service
- In the Mid to Late 1990s Eastwind AirlinesEastwind AirlinesEastwind Airlines was a start-up airline formed in mid-1995 and headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey, United States, and later in Greensboro, North Carolina. Jim McNally, a former Price Waterhouse analyst who had headed that firm's recovery teams when several other airlines sought management and...
operated a hub out of Trenton to Florida and Virginia as well as airports in Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. The airline flew from Philadelphia as an alternative for a short time too. This was one of the only times Trenton-Mercer saw scheduled jet service from its short runways with 737-200 and 737-700 aircraft. - From 1998 until 2003 Shuttle AmericaShuttle AmericaShuttle America Corporation is a regional airline based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It feeds United Airlines flights at Chicago, Denver, and Washington as United Express, and feeds Delta Air Lines flights at Atlanta and New York as Delta Connection and Delta Shuttle.-History:Shuttle America...
operated a scheduled business commuter service to airports in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and North Carolina. The airline flew 50 seat Dash 8-311 turboprops and had all its aircraft stocked with in-flight service items when stopping in Trenton. The airline ceased operations at TTN after a codeshare service with US AirwaysUS AirwaysUS Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
drew customers to nearby Philadelphia from Trenton. - In 2006 and 2007 ComairComairComair is a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines headquartered on the grounds of Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport in unincorporated Boone County, Kentucky, United States, west of Erlanger, and south of Cincinnati, Ohio...
flew to both Atlanta and BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
from Trenton on behalf of Delta ConnectionDelta ConnectionDelta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
using CRJ-200 aircraft. After a few months, Big Sky AirlinesBig Sky AirlinesBig Sky Airlines was an American regional airline that operated from 1978 to 2008. Headquartered in Billings, Montana, United States. Big Sky was wholly owned by Big Sky Transportation Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of MAIR Holdings....
took over the Boston service flying Beech 1900 equipment. The service ended in early January 2008. - From May 2000 until February 2008, Boston-Maine AirwaysBoston-Maine AirwaysBoston-Maine Airways was an American airline headquartered in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. It operated scheduled commuter services under the Pan Am Clipper Connection banner. Its main base was Pease International Airport, Portsmouth...
operated a flight known as the Pan Am Clipper Connection between Trenton-Mercer Airport and Hanscom FieldHanscom FieldHanscom Field , also known by its full name Laurence G. Hanscom Field, is a public airport located in Bedford, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority....
in BedfordBedford, MassachusettsBedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is within the Greater Boston area, north-west of the city of Boston. The population of Bedford was 13,320 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. The flight was terminated when Boston-Maine Airways ceased operating on February 28, 2008.
External links
- Trenton-Mercer Airport (official site)